Food startup Samon Co., helmed by CEO Son So-hee, made a splash with its Wadiz crowdfunding campaign, launching the upcycled snack ‘RE:RE:CHU’ and pet treat ‘Hong Sam Soksok.’ The campaign smashed expectations, achieving an impressive 1,192% funding rate.
◆Reinventing Red Ginseng Byproducts: The Birth of ‘REinsam’
Samon’s innovative products are turning heads by breathing new life into red ginseng byproducts. While red ginseng is a beloved health food, its production typically generates substantial waste. Samon saw an opportunity where others saw trash, developing ‘REinsam’ by meticulously collecting, sorting, and reprocessing these byproducts.
To ensure top-notch quality, Samon put REinsam through its paces at the Geumsan Ginseng and Herbal Industry Promotion Agency. The results? Impressive. Tests revealed a total ginsenoside content of 20.51 mg/g, including heavy hitters like Rg1, Rb1, and Rg3. They didn’t stop there, also checking for pesticide residues and microbial nasties to guarantee a clean, safe product.
A Samon spokesperson dished, “We’re not just spinning a feel-good story here. Our approach to upcycling is all about hard facts and quality you can taste.”
By debuting with snacks, Samon’s aiming to win over the younger crowd and make their eco-friendly treats accessible to all. After all, who can resist a guilt-free munchie that’s easy on the wallet?
Samon spilled the tea, saying, “Look, the good stuff in these ginseng leftovers is so potent, we could’ve slapped a ‘health supplement’ label on it and charged a fortune. But we’re on a mission to flip the script on ‘waste’ – so we’re bringing it to the masses as an everyday snack instead.”
Here’s the kicker: Samon scored the red ginseng remnants for free from the Geumsan Ginseng Cooperative. It’s a win-win, helping ginseng producers cut down on waste disposal costs while boosting the local economy.
Samon’s got big dreams for Geumsan. They’re hoping more local companies will jump on the bandwagon, creating a circular economy powerhouse. Imagine Geumsan evolving from just another production site to the beating heart of K-ginseng innovation!
◆Snack Attack: ‘RE:RE:CHU’ and ‘Hong Sam Soksok’ Hit the Scene
RE:RE:CHU, the star of Samon’s Wadiz campaign, is a flavor explosion waiting to happen. It’s a mouthwatering mix of upcycled red ginseng remnants and a whopping 11 grains, including barley, black soybean, and Job’s tears. The result? A snack that’s both indulgently crunchy and packed with wholesome goodness.
RE:RE:CHU is all about making ginseng cool again. Kids can enjoy a sweet, guilt-free treat, while office warriors can keep a stash at their desk for those 3 PM slumps. And with gift-giving season always around the corner, these snacks are perfect for everything from family movie nights to holiday gatherings.
But Samon didn’t forget about our furry friends! Teaming up with pet food wizards ‘Tails Kitchen,’ they cooked up ‘Hong Sam Soksok’ – a pet treat that’s putting ginseng byproducts to work in the cutest way possible. Available in chicken and duck flavors, it’s a tasty way to reduce waste and pamper your pooch.
Samon’s success story is just getting started. After snagging a spot in the 2023 startup incubator program, they locked down seed funding that December. CEO Son So-hee brings serious street cred to the table, with five years in the ginseng biz and a global perspective honed by a decade in China and a stint at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With this Wadiz triumph under their belt, Samon’s revving up to expand their snack empire and dive into new consumer goods. But they’re not stopping there – their long-term vision includes extracting those potent REinsam compounds for pharmaceutical research. Talk about taking K-ginseng to new heights and showing the world what “upcycled ginseng” can really do!
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